Each year, the European BCO Network engages in an annual capacity building and knowledge exchange programme offered by a dedicated Support Facility established by the European Commission. The Annual Work Plan Summary provides an overview of the 2026-2027 programme, which encompasses a wide array of activities, including online and in-person events, training materials, publications and videos, tailored to address the BCOs’ needs.
Key topics
In 2026-2027, the programme will focus on the following key topics:
Policy, funding and regulatory topics
These issues are related (but not limited) to:
- Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2028-2034
- Digital Networks Act
- Digital Decade Report
- Gigabit Infrastructure Act
- EU State aid guidelines
- Security and resilience: critical communication infrastructure, satellites, submarine cables, cybersecurity, border regions, outermost regions
- Cohesion, rural development and agriculture
- 5G: along and extending from transport corridors, open radio access networks, quality of service, ‘EU Cybersecurity Toolbox for 5G’
- Digital skills
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT)
- Important Projects of Common European Interest: Cloud and infrastructure
- International Telecommunication Union investment tool
Project planning
This implies providing guidance to BCOs on, among others:
- Design, implementation and monitoring of broadband schemes and projects;
- Stimulation and aggregation of bottom-up demand for high-speed broadband;
- Selection of business and investment models and financing structures;
- Information about state-of-the-art technology choices and infrastructure types;
- Obtaining State aid clearance.
Good practices
This implies sharing of practical know-how, exchange of good practices from across the EU.
Investment
This involves dentifying, promoting and providing advice, as well as technical support, on investment opportunities for broadband network roll-out, in particular in market failure areas, such as rural, remote and sparsely populated areas and outermost regions.
This summary was developed as part of the European Broadband Competence Offices (BCO) Network’s work to raise awareness of EU support for high-speed broadband deployment and share good practices in broadband projects. Discover more interviews in the BCO Network YouTube playlist and more broadband good practices, news and resources in the BCO Network Library.
Last update
16 April 2026